FC Astana vs Galatasaray preview - Astana keen to make country proud against Galatasaray

Posted Tuesday, September 29, 2015 by PA

Astana head coach Stanimir Stoilov wants to make the whole of Kazakhstan proud when they host Galatasaray in the country's first ever Champions League group match.

No Kazakhstani team have ever before made the group stage and the debutants made a good impression on matchday one, despite falling to a 2-0 defeat at Benfica .

They now have home advantage as they continue their Group C campaign against Turkish champions Galatasaray at the Astana Arena on Wednesday evening.

It is a momentous occasion and Astana's Bulgarian coach wants to make his adopted country proud.

"We know that it is a really important game for Astana and the whole of Kazakhstan as well," Stoilov said.

"Galatasaray are the favourites but we will have our chances to get something out of the match.

"First, we have to think about discipline on the field, and giving our best.

"If we don't, there could be mistakes, but it will be good experience for us regardless.

"The absence of Burak Yilmaz is no great advantage for us - Galatasaray still have plenty of other strong attackers."

A hamstring injury keeps striker Yilmaz out against Astana, who will be without Patrick Twumasi as he serves the second of a four-match ban.

Galatasaray arrived in the Kazakhstani capital on Monday in a bid to help adapt to the Astana Stadium's artificial pitch as they look to secure a first away win in the competition since March 2013.

It would be a timely boost having lost 2-0 at home to Atletico Madrid and their chances may be increased by the fact they have being working in partnership with Astana since signing a memorandum of cooperation 17 months ago.

"We came here to win," Galatasaray coach Hamza Hamzaoglu said. "We want to get three points.

"And if it happens, I'm sure it will not be easy. If we get a draw, that would be a good result for us.

"I think that we are going in the right direction and we will show that.

"Six Astana players represent the national team and all of Turkey's games against Kazakhstan have been tight.

"We need to be flexible if we are going to get the right result."